EAS 4260

Structural Geology

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

The nature and origin of deformed rocks at submicroscopic to global scales. The course begins with review of elementary principles of continuum mechanics and continues with a discussion of deformation mechanisms commonly observed in earth materials. The geometry, kinematics, and mechanics of faults, folds, are then addressed and the class ends with a description of the tectonic setting of structural families such as thrust belts, rift provinces, and zones of strike slip deformation. A weekend field trip to a region of spectacular folding and thrusting provides an opportunity to apply the concepts learned in lecture.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: one semester of calculus, plus introductory geology course, or permission of instructor.

Distribution Category (PBS)

Comments One weekend field trip.

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